Dispensing apparatus



June 1933- F. s. BARKS ET AL DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 1933- F. s. BARKS ET AL DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 51, 1929 s Sheets-Shet 2 VII/Ill/Ilur/l J w /{A 444 mww r/llll/I/f/I Z June 27, 1933.

F. s. BARKS ET AL DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed May 31, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 mm A mm 5.... \W\ m Patented June 27, 1933 FRANK S. BABES, OF LGUIS, AND HILLIAIM ZaIiINBEEE, OF FERGUSON, I-EISSOURI,

ASSIGITORS TO LINCGLN ENGINEEBEIJG POR-ATION OF MISSQURI DESEENE-ING Application filed May 31,

This invention relates to dispensing apparatus and with regard to certain more specific features, to electrical luhricators.

Among the several objects of the invent on may be noted the provision or" improved high speed dispensing apparatus in which full pressure is instantaneously a *ailable for delivery purposes whenever a control valve is operated to release position without the use of a motor having an excessively high starting torque, an improved lost motion or lash arrangement being used; the provision of a device of the class described including means for automatically and'economically maintaining said full pressure without danger of bursting the delivery line should any automatic control element cease to function; and the provision of a device of the class described which is rugged in form, economical in construction and positive in operation. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus, certain portions being broken away;

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the apparatus, certain portions being broken away;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section showing a pump mechanism arrangement on an en larged scale, taken substantially along line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. l is a fragmentary .view similar to Fig. 3 showing an alternative position at substantially half-stroke;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a cross section of a pressure controlled switch, showing the switch closed under low pressure conditions;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing CGIEEAIJY, OF ST. LGUIS, BEEEiSOURI, A COR- AFPAEAT'US 1929. Serial No. 337,432.

the switch in open position and under high pressure conditions; and, Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross section of a relief valve.

Similar reference characters indicate correfication and in the accompanying claims as including conductible substances such as grease, oil or putty. A solution has been attempted by permitting a driving motor to run continuously to drive a pump so that it pumps into a line. When the line is open the fluid (grease, for example) is delivered to a predetermined point. To provide for shutting the line and maintaining pressure,'a by-pass to the source of supply of the pump is provided which functions against a spring at a predetermined pressure so that by-passage to the supply is had at predetermined line pressure. The disadvantage of thus maintaining a line pressure is that the motor is wastefully running at all times.

'lhe present invention overcomes the above wasteful operation and provides the advan tages of a safe, constantly available line pressure, this being done without the use of an excessively large motor having a high starting torque. It is to be noted hereinafter, that not only is the size of the machine reduced, but that a simplified, more economical and rugged form of construction may be used when the above improvements are effected.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. i, there is illustrated at numeral 1 a base or frame, to the forward end of which is bolted a pump casting 3 and to the rearward end of which is bolted a motor 5. The motor 5 is arranged so that the center line CL of the same is positioned laterally of the longitudinal axis AB of the machine taken as a whole (see Fig. 2). This mot-or 5 is provided with a pinion 7 which meshes with a gear 9, the

latter being fastened to a crank shaft 11, the axis of which is parallel to the center line CL. A suitable guard 13 is mounted about the gear train 7, 9, said guard being fastened to the frame 1. It will be seen that this is a simple gear train, ordinary spur gears being shown. It is to be understood that helical or herringbone gears might also be used.

The crank shaft 11 is rotatably mounted in a suitable bearing 15, the bearing also being bolted to the frame 1. At the inner end of the crank shaft 11 is formed a crank disc or arm 16 which carries an eccentrically located crank pin 17, the latter engaging with the bearing 21 of thedriven end of a connecting rod 19.

The connecting rod 19 is of novel construction, as illustrated in Fig. 3 and comprises one of the novel features of this invention when taken in connection with other parts to be described. The rear end thereof comprises the bearing portion threaded to the rear end of the rod 19.

The forward end of the connecting rod 19 is articulated with a plunger 23 by means of a ferrule 25 screwed to the rod per se and having a shoulder 27 for engaging a cross pin 29 in the plunger 23, the engagement being arranged so that at the same time the rounded rear end 31 of the plunger is spaced a short distance from the concave end 2 of a hardened anvil ring piece 30 forced into the head end 4 of the connecting rod 19. As shown in the drawings, the ring 30 is positioned at the end" of the recess or bore 6 in the end 4: of the rod 19. A spring 8 positioned within the bore 6 reacts against the rounded end 31 of the plunger 23 so as to press the pin 29 into engagement with the shoulder 27. This occurs when the machine is idle and upon back strokes, as will be seen hereinafter.

A chamfer 33 is provided outside of the shoulder 27 for permitting articulation of the connecting rod 19 with respect to the plunger 23 and a skirt 10 is continued out from the chamfer 33. The purpose of this skirt 10 is to eliminate the possibility that the connecting rod and associated parts can be entirely disconnected from the plunger 23 in case the pin 29 should break. Thus if the pin 29 breaks and the crank continues to rotate, the skirt 10 will ride on the plunger 23 and prevent the connecting rod 19 from dropping and becoming fouled with the remainder of the apparatus. The crank 16 moves clockwise when viewed as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. It is clear from Figs. 3 and i that the diameter of the crank throw is less than the effective length of the ferrule 25 (with its sleeve 10) on the rod 23. Hence the ferrule cannot leave said rod, even though pin 29 breaks.

The purpose of the spring connection 8 is to provide means whereby the motor 5 will not be call'ed'upon to deliver maximum torque immediately upon starting. This is because when the motor-is turned off (under the conditions to be described) the spring 8 reacts to set the crank 16 back a fraction of a throw. It does not move the plunger 23 because this has a pressure to overcome before it can be moved if it is taking a driving stroke. Thus with the crank set back when the machine stops, there is provided some lost motion or back lash when the motor is started. This is because the spring compresses so that the anvil 3O approaches the rounded end 31 0f the plunger 23, assuming that a driving stroke takes place first. Upon a suction stroke, inasmuch as high pressures are not being acted against, the back lash is not needed and is not provided. The pin 29 rests against the shoulder 27.

The advantage of the above construction is that a. smaller motor 5 may be selected,

that is, one having a lower starting torquethan would be re uired were the 311m in b load immediately assumed by the motor upon starting. This construction permits the armature to ain some momentum and create .L J:

a back electro-motive iorce before the full load is assumed. lience a smaller motor will fulfill the requirements. This advantage is particularly useful 1n high pressure apparatus of the class described herein, wherein a for lltlhlllg the (llTQCb load at starting might be prohibitive in price, size and/or weight. Thus it will be seen that a simplified form of wrist pin connection is provided which may be readily manufactured and assembled and which provides an improved structure in the remainder of the apparatus.

As illustrated in Fi 3, the plunger 23 passes into a bore 35 of a removable pump bushing 37. The bushing 37 is provided at its rear end with a spanner head 39 for applying a wrench. Near the other end it. is provided with a thread 41 for engaging threads on the interior of the bore 43 in the casting 3, said bore 43 accommodating the bushing 37. Directly at this other end is also provided a castellated'portion 45 an d a recess within the castellation for receiving with a force fit a valve seat 47. The outside of the castellated portion 45 is provided with an" interrupted bead d9 over which is sprung a gasket 51 for providing a seal and take-up between the casting 3 and bushing 37. A gasket 53 is also used between the spanner portion 39 and the casting It should be noted that the gasket 51, when the bushing 37 is removed, remains with the luisliing, because the casket is sprung over the bead 4-9. This feature facilitates assembly and repair operations.

As will be seen from Fig. 3, the casting 3 has a. hollow chamber 55 formed around the bushing 37 and communicating with the interior cylinder 35 of the bushing 37 by way of a surrounding space 57 and a plurality n y high starting torque (three in the present instance) of ports 59, the latter being formed through the bushing 37. Reciprocation of the plunger 23 is adapted to take place across the ports 59 and by the addition of the check valve construction to be described, upon its return stroke, sucks grease or the like from the chamber 55 and upon its forward stroke compresses the material out through the valve.

The check valve above referred to comprises a hardened disc 61 which loosely fits within the castellated' portions 45 and upon return stroke of the plunger 23 seats against the relatively sharp edge of the valve seat 17. Upon a driving stroke, the valve 61 unseats and is pressed toward the upper edge of a second castellation 63. It should be noted that the diameter of the disc 61 is smaller than the inside bore of the castellation 45 but is larger than the inside bore of the castellation 63. Hence when grease is pressed out by the plunger 23, it passes under the disc, out through the castellation 45, around the disc and inwardly over the disc through the castellation 63. A counter bore 68 forms the intermediate passage.

The castellation 63 forms an integral part of a nipple 64 threaded into the casting 3. This nipple 64 is adapted to receive the connecting end of a flexible hose 65 which passes to a control valve or gun G (see Fig. 1). The valve G is for starting and stopping flow. The valve or gun G is operated by a handle so as to permit or block passage of grease.

The details'of the construction of the valve G are set out more particularly in my Patent 1,633,304 and it suflices to say here that its function is to open and close the grease outlet line 65 of the present apparatus, that is, upon manual operation of the handle 159.

Referring again to the check valve con struction it will be seen that it includes a manually operable relief cock67 communicating with and for the purpose of relieving air from about the castellation 63. The com municating passage 66 leading from the relief cook 67 to the castellations 63 is indicated in Fig. 3. Hence if the prime of the machine should be lost due to any unforseen cause, this cock may be opened and the binding air may be permitted to escape.

However, it is one of the purposes of this invention to practically eliminate loss of prime. This is done by making the plunger 23 long enough and arranging its stroke such that it will both cover and uncover the ports 59 and at the outlet end of its stroke will mechanically unseat the disc or closing ele ment 61. Reseating is effected by line pressure and a spring 2 which reacts against a shoulder 4 in the nipple 64 and against the disc 61. The spring is used to assure seating when no pressure is in the outlet line. It is to be undertood that the plunger may have a stem extending forwardly from its valve speed reciprocation.

unseating end, if desired, or the plunger may have a shouldered or stepped constructio In prior devices the unseating of the valve has been accomplished only by the pressure 70 of the fluid being pumped, that is, unless auxiliary valve mechanisms have been used. Applicants use no auxiliary valve mechanism but mechanically unseats the valve by means of the pumping plunger. The advantage of this is apparent when it is considered that in the old constructions the forward face of the plunger never reached the valve disc and if an accumulation of air occurred back of the disc (which was entirely possible, due to bubbles of air in the grease or the like) there would occur the possibility of a charge of air collecting behind the disc and being compressed without opening the disc against the line pressure. Upon the plunger receding, 35 the air would re-expand and be recompressed on the next succeeding stroke, this action continuing indefinitely without grease being pumped. The grease was not pumped because the vacuum had been lost when the trapped charge of air was compressed and re-expanded.

By this invention the plunger, regardless of the tendency for air to collect behind the disc 61, positively forces the disc from its seat so that the accumulated air is pumped out of the delivery line and not permitted to break the prime of the pump. Thus a high speed pump is made practicable. Also a shorter stroke may be used because a greater number of strokes will handle a given volume with less plunger displacement. This decreases the size and cost of the machine. Furthermore, the high speed machine is cheaper, because the high speed electric motor may be used with the simplified form of gear reduction 7, 9 shown, rather than a more elaborate gear reduction which is ordinarily necessary to adapt the standard motor to slow This invention is particularly useful when it is considered that the linear clearance in any machine is about constant, inasmuch as it is a function of machine tolerances which are always about the same. Also, as above stated, with a high speed machine, inasmuch as the total amount of fluid pumped is the same for a given capacity, the stroke is shorter, so that in such a high speed machine the ratio of the volumetric clearance to the total cylinder volume is greater and hence any trapped air is not brought to as high a pressure and hence there is less chance of unseating the disc by means of a compressed charge of entrapped air. Therefore applicants method of positively unseating by means of the plunger is particularly advantageous in making possible the successful operation of a high speed dispenser.

Fastened to the top of the casting 3 is a grease container 7 9 including a loosely fitting piston 81, t ie latter being adapted to receive atmospheric pressure and press down the grease as it is sucked out through the open lugs 59. The piston 81 prevents an undesirable crater formation of the grease which otherwise permits air, instead of grease, to reach the pumpin g elements. The container 79 carries a hand cover 83.

is tapped the bottom as The castii'ig o v so as to provide a sec- (uU shown at numeral a; on d communication with the region about the castellation 03. Leading from the tapped portion 68 pressure control line 09 which passes rearw. A through the base 1 and to a pressure switch 85, the. latter being mountand shown more in parin LO ed on the frame 1 ticular in Figs. 1, 2, 6 and '4' this switch comprising a diaphragm 8? engaged to be operated from below by an adapter plunger 89, the latter being fitted slidably with a leather piston 90 in a chamber 91. The chamber 91 is in communication with said line 69 from the opening 08. Upon increase of pressure in line 69, due to pumping, the diaphragm 8'? rises and upon decrease of pressure it falls. A compression transmission link joins the diaphragm 87 with a short arm 97 of a bell crank 95, the long arm 99 of which is normally held to the left by an adjustably regulahle spring 101, that is, under conditions of low pre sure in line 69 (see Fig. (3). When said pressure rises the bell crank 95 is forced to the right- (Fig. 7) against the reaction of spring 101. A nut 102 threaded to red lO-l: provides the adjustment for predetermination of the pressure at which the. bell crank will reach a given position.

Line wires 103 engage with line terminals 105 mounted on an in lating base 107, said base 107 slidably supporting a contact brush 109. The brush 109 is held to a member which is pinned to an oscillable link 111, the latter being pivoted at phi 113. An overcentering link 115 is connected with the oscillable link 111 by a supporting link 117 and has a lost motion connection with said oscillabie link 111 by a supporting link 1 17 and has a lost motion connection with said oscillable link 111 at a pin oint 119. The link 115 is normally held in a downward position by a spring 121 and its other end comprises an overcentering wed 123 resting on a roller 125 rotatably mounted on the long arm 99 of the bell crank 95. The action is clear from 0 and 7. In Fig. 6 the pressure in the line 69 is low enough that the spring 101 holds the bell crank to the left. The switch is then closed and the circuit. of the wires 103 is so a .nged that themotor 23 is then running and driving" the pump.

After pressure builds up in tie line 69, the

bell crank 95 is thrown into the Fig. 7 position. This means that the roller 125 has ridden over the wedge 123 and the reaction of the spring 121 throws the link 115 to the left, thereby rotating the link 111 counterclockwise and opening theswitch. The lost motion engagement, taken in connection with the overcentering action of the wedge 123, provides an exceedingly rapid opening. At this stage the motor circuit open and the pumping action ceases.

At numeral 11' is indicated a relief port for permitting escape of such grease as may leak past the member 89 and below the diaphragm 87.

It will be seen that the adapter 89 prevents pressure from distributing itself over the entire area of the diapl ragm 87 and thus adapts the switch to the high pressures used in greasing work, these being of the order of several thousand pounds per square-inch.

The operation of the device and its ad vantages are as follows:

The handle 159 of the gun is normally in such position that the gun is closed and blocks passage of grease from the line 65. The grease container 7 9 is filled. The pressure in the control line 65 is down and the switch 85 is closed so that upon applying potential to the switch-motor circuit, the motor 5 starts. The lost-motion engagement between the connecting rod 19 and plunger 23 permits tne motor to gain a start before the full load due to the pressures is applied. Hence the motor drives the plunger 37 to reciprocate. It is to be understood that if the motor happens to start upon a back stroke that no lost motion or back lash is effected but it is to be remembered that it is not then needed because of the light loads upon the back stroke. Throughout the reciprocation the anvil touches the plunger 23 on the forward strokes and recedes therefrom upon the rearward strokes. Recession is equal to the amountpermitted by contact of the pin 29 with the shoulder 27. Should the pin 29 break, the ferrule 25 will reciprocate upon the plunger 23 without doing damage.

Assuming that the valve or gun G is not opened and that the whole device has been primed, due to previous operation or otherwise, the pressure in lines 65 and (39 builds up simultaneously. This is because grease is pushed into them. The line 69 transmits pressure to the switch 85. After the pressure has reached a predetermined amount, the switch moves from its Fig. 6 closed position to its Fig. 7 open position, whereupon the switch-motor circuit is opened and the motor stops running. If the motor stops upon forward stroke, the spring 8 expands and sets the motor back the amount required by the lost motion between the connecting rod 19 and the plunger 13. This sets the parts ready for the next start. It will be seer that the pipe 69, switch 85 and the electrical circuit to the motor comprise in combination a controlling means.

It will thus be seen that pressure is built up in line 65 so that when the outlet 124: of the gun is fastened to a grease fitting and the gun opened from handle 159, that full pressure a-utomatially and immediatelyfiows to the fitting. It has been found that this is of advantage in loosening frozen bearings and the like and performs better greasing operation than if pressure is built more gradually. Pressure is supplied instantaneously and advantage is thus taken of the kinetic elfects of fluid.

It is clear that when the gun G is opened that pressure in the lines 65 and 69 immediately drops. This means that the switch 85 returns from its Fig. 7 open position to its Fig. 6 closed position and the motor starts up again to raise the pressure by operating the grease pump. The motor instantaneously takes up the back lash or lost motion but the time element involved is enough to give the motor a start without load and short enough that the pressure in the line 65 does not remain too far down for too long a period. Pumping will continue, at least intermittently, as long as grease is permitted to flow out of the gun. It will also continue such time after the gun is closed that it takes to build up enough pressure in the lines to reach the predetermined value at which the switch 85 will open. I

It will be understood that if inadvertent leakage occurs upon standing, with pressures in the line 65, 69, that said pressure will decrease but that an incipient decrease will close the switch 85 by the methods above set out, so that the motor will again start and cause an incipient increase with the consequent shutting off of the motor. Thus the motor starts and stops to hold up the pressure to the predetermined value.

Another feature of this invention regards the relief valve 12 shown in detail in Fig. 8. This valve comprises a spring seated valve 14 which normally closes an outlet passage P under normal working pressures of the machine. The passage P is in communication with the interior of the control pipe 69 (see Figs. 1, 2, 7 and 8). The spring 18 in the valve 12 is of such tension that should the pressures in lines 65, 69 build up to abnormal values such as might cause bursting of these lines, then the valve will unseat to relieve this pressure. The conditions under which the contingency of ab normal pressures might occur would be, for instance, non-functioning of the switch 85 due to leakage at the piston 90, breakage of the springs 101 or 121 or the like. The point is that a switch part might break after the motor had been turned on so that thereafter pressure would build up indefinitely until a line burst, were it not for the safety device comprised by the relief valve shown in Fig. 8. r

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. In combination a connectingrod and the member which it drives comprising a projection on the member, extension means extending from the connecting rod surrounding one end of the member and said projection, means effecting constrained relative oscillable movement and guided longitudinal movement between the rod and the member and a spring normally stressed to prevent the lost motion but adapted to be compressed so as to permit said motion, a crank articulated to the other end of the connecting rod, the throw of which is less than the effective relative movement of said extension means on said driven member should said projection break.

2. A lost-motion articulation between a connecting rod and a plunger member which it drives comprising a laterally located pin in the member, a ferrule at the end of the connecting rod surrounding the plunger and the pin, a shoulder onthe ferrule engaged by the pin to prevent separation of the rod and member and effecting constrained oscillation and longitudinal movement between the connecting rod and plunger, a recess in the end of the rod, a spring reacting from the recess against the member to hold the pin against the shoulder, and an anvil in the recess and surrounding the spring and adapted to engage the driven member endwise.

3. A lost-motion articulation between a connecting rod and a member which it drives comprising a laterally located pin in the member, a ferrule at the end of the connecting rod surrounding the plunger and the pin, a shoulder on the ferrule engaged by the pin to prevent separation of the rod and member, a recess in the end of the rod, a spring reacting from the recess against the member to hold the pin against the shoulder and a skirt extending from said shoulder adapted to prevent the ferrule from riding oil of the member when the pin breaks.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification this 28th day of May, 1929.

FRANK S. BARKS. WILLIAM Z. LINDERS. 

